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After reviewing all the insider scuttlebutt, I think I've sorted everything out. The Patriots are in negotiations with St. Louis to move up to #2 and KC for #5, because they're locked in on Glenn Dorsey, and Chris Long, and Vernon Gholston. And they're aggressively pursuing trade-down opportunities, which will see them swap 1sts with Cincinnati, New Orleans, Carolina, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota and Dallas, because they're locked in on Matt Ryan, Sedrick Ellis and Darren McFadden. Meanwhile at #7 the Pats have settled on Branden Albert, Leodis McKelvin and Keith Rivers. All clear?
:bricks:

So in this sea of misinformation, what rings true to you at this stage? Here's my indefensible gut instinct:

- The players the Pats would really want at #7 are J. Long, Dorsey and Gholston. No CBs are in the mix at all.

- They are doing their due diligence on moving up for one of those players, but won't go above #5 to do it. It won't happen.

After reviewing all the insider scuttlebutt, I think I've sorted everything out. The Patriots are in negotiations with St. Louis to move up to #2 and KC for #5, because they're locked in on Glenn Dorsey, and Chris Long, and Vernon Gholston. And they're aggressively pursuing trade-down opportunities, which will see them swap 1sts with Cincinnati, New Orleans, Carolina, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota and Dallas, because they're locked in on Matt Ryan, Sedrick Ellis and Darren McFadden. Meanwhile at #7 the Pats have settled on Branden Albert, Leodis McKelvin and Keith Rivers. All clear?
:bricks:

So in this sea of misinformation, what rings true to you at this stage? Here's my indefensible gut instinct:

- The players the Pats would really want at #7 are J. Long, Dorsey and Gholston. No CBs are in the mix at all.

- They are doing their due diligence on moving up for one of those players, but won't go above #5 to do it. It won't happen.

- They will trade down.

Click to expand...

I'd agree with that. However, I think theres a stronger chance that they move up than down, but only b/c the Jets are in front of them. Assuming there's a player they really covet, I can't imagine them sitting there and letting the Jets take him and then move down. I think if the guy they want is sitting there at 5, they will try hard to leapfrog the Jets. Considering they have 8 picks in this draft, and only one made the team last year, if there's a player they really want, I think they'll move up, but like you said, not above 5.

After reviewing all the insider scuttlebutt, I think I've sorted everything out. The Patriots are in negotiations with St. Louis to move up to #2 and KC for #5, because they're locked in on Glenn Dorsey, and Chris Long, and Vernon Gholston. And they're aggressively pursuing trade-down opportunities, which will see them swap 1sts with Cincinnati, New Orleans, Carolina, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota and Dallas, because they're locked in on Matt Ryan, Sedrick Ellis and Darren McFadden. Meanwhile at #7 the Pats have settled on Branden Albert, Leodis McKelvin and Keith Rivers. All clear?
:bricks:

So in this sea of misinformation, what rings true to you at this stage? Here's my indefensible gut instinct:

- The players the Pats would really want at #7 are J. Long, Dorsey and Gholston. No CBs are in the mix at all.

- They are doing their due diligence on moving up for one of those players, but won't go above #5 to do it. It won't happen.

After reviewing all the insider scuttlebutt, I think I've sorted everything out. The Patriots are in negotiations with St. Louis to move up to #2 and KC for #5, because they're locked in on Glenn Dorsey, and Chris Long, and Vernon Gholston. And they're aggressively pursuing trade-down opportunities, which will see them swap 1sts with Cincinnati, New Orleans, Carolina, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota and Dallas, because they're locked in on Matt Ryan, Sedrick Ellis and Darren McFadden. Meanwhile at #7 the Pats have settled on Branden Albert, Leodis McKelvin and Keith Rivers. All clear?
:bricks:

So in this sea of misinformation, what rings true to you at this stage? Here's my indefensible gut instinct:

- The players the Pats would really want at #7 are J. Long, Dorsey and Gholston. No CBs are in the mix at all.

- They are doing their due diligence on moving up for one of those players, but won't go above #5 to do it. It won't happen.

- They will trade down.

Click to expand...

1. I do not believe that they would trade up to #2. Dorsey is special but I don't think they would do that unless he drops to #4.

2. I believe that they will try to trade up to #5 to get either Gholston or C. Long if they are there.

3. I think if they pick at #7 Keith Rivers is the guy and not Albert. Albert is too much of a risk to be picking him that high. And CB's are off the board at #7 but not if they trade down out of the top 15.

4. I do believe that they will try to trade down if they can't get Gholston, C.Long or Dorsey. However both St. Louis and Oakland would have to be out of their minds not to take Dorsey. Once they trade down,it's anyones guess who they will take depending on which spot they are in. It could be and OT, LB, CB, or RB (stewart).

So in this sea of misinformation, what rings true to you at this stage? Here's my indefensible gut instinct:

- The players the Pats would really want at #7 are J. Long, Dorsey and Gholston. No CBs are in the mix at all.

- They are doing their due diligence on moving up for one of those players, but won't go above #5 to do it. It won't happen.

- They will trade down.

Click to expand...

I pretty much agree with all of your instincts.

More and more, I'm starting to think the team is probably less interested in Gholston than we might believe. Almost every scouting report on him that's based on tape and not measurables is at least moderately negative. I'd love for someone to get me back on his bandwagon and re-excite me about this player in the scenario in which we do take him, but until that happens, he has fallen down my board, personally.

I think they will trade down, but hopefully only a few spots in the 10-14 area, which is filled with teams that all have reasons to trade up.

I believe that the Pats will not be able to move up.
They will be able to trade down after the first couple of
picks because there is going to be some one that falls
who the Pats really don't need (Matt Ryan, McFadden) but
other teams night be hot for.
They will then acquire Keith Rivers LB.

I'd agree with that. However, I think theres a stronger chance that they move up than down, but only b/c the Jets are in front of them. Assuming there's a player they really covet, I can't imagine them sitting there and letting the Jets take him and then move down. I think if the guy they want is sitting there at 5, they will try hard to leapfrog the Jets. Considering they have 8 picks in this draft, and only one made the team last year, if there's a player they really want, I think they'll move up, but like you said, not above 5.

Click to expand...

Actually it's pretty easy for the Pats to outbid the Jets for the #5 spot. For one thing, the Jets don't have a 3rd round pick in this draft. So the Pats' late third round pick should be enough to move up to #5. I really doubt the Jets want to throw in their high 2nd round pick just to thwart the Pats. Other than a total stud like J. Long dropping to #5, I don't think the Pats will move up.

I dont buy any of this stuff. I think we're gonna sit right there at 7, or possibly trade down to 10 with New Orleans, and either grab Rivers or Albert. LBs obviously need youth and speed. We'd get that and incredible work ethic and leadership with Rivers. Or we could add the versatile young stud lineman who can play anywhere for us for a long time and protect our key guy. We're not trading up and giving away picks. And I still havent ruled out the possibility of a Jason Taylor trade. That's the one key veteran trade Im interested in with that 2nd rounder.